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January 1, Massachusetts Hospital Changes Reporting Policy: Substance-Exposed Newborns Will Not Be Reported
Mass General Brigham, the largest hospital network in Massachusetts, has announced a significant change in its policy. Babies born with illegal drugs in their systems, or “substance exposure,” will no longer be automatically reported to state welfare agencies unless there are other concerns of abuse or neglect.
The hospital group stated, “‘Substance exposure’ alone, including treatment with methadone or buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, does not require a report of abuse or neglect in the absence of protective concerns for the infant.” Going forward, a report will only be filed if there is “reasonable cause to believe that the infant is suffering or at imminent risk of suffering physical or emotional injury.”
The updated policy also requires written consent for drug testing on newborns or mothers, except in emergency situations. This change was prompted by concerns over “racial and ethnic inequities,” as the hospital group acknowledged that “more punitive approaches” to substance abuse during pregnancy “disproportionately affect Black individuals.”
The hospital system cited studies that found, “Black pregnant people are more likely to be drug tested and to be reported to child welfare systems than white pregnant people.” Previously, women taking opioid addiction medications like buprenorphine or methadone faced reporting requirements, even though their babies could be born dependent on these medications.
Some women even stopped taking their medications out of fear of losing custody of their children. The new policy aims to “reduce stigma” and improve access to substance abuse treatment.
Sarah Wakeman, the hospital system’s senior medical director for substance use disorder, stated, “Our new perinatal testing and reporting policy is the latest step in our efforts to address longstanding inequities in substance use disorder care and to provide compassionate, evidence-based support to families, while addressing substance use disorder as a treatable health condition.” She added, “A positive toxicology test does not tell you anything about someone’s ability to parent. Actually, a positive buprenorphine test tells you this person is engaged in treatment.”
Mass General Brigham operates labor rooms in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Boston Medical Center had previously implemented a similar change in its policy regarding reporting newborns born dependent on drugs their mothers were taking.
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josephine
April 11, 2024 at 10:57 am
that is damned stupid; COLOR DOES NOT MATTER, the baby needs the BEST care possible, perhaps a threat of jail to mother and father who does drugs would be a deterrent; I have never figured out why women put poison in their bodies and the bodies of their babies; the cycle continues through ignorance and self hate possibly. BABY WILL NEED BEST CARE POSSIBLE TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF IGNORANCE
Patrick Cluchey
April 11, 2024 at 11:18 am
These are educated people demonstrating amazing stupidity.
They are intelligent people with zero wisdom.
Donna Lindsey
April 11, 2024 at 12:50 pm
I’m confused??? What’s a ‘pregnant people’? From what I learned in biology YEARS ago…..only WOMEN can be pregnant. So why not just say ‘pregnant women’? Drug use is drug use & the poor infant shouldn’t have to suffer because of it & should be reported (Black, White, Green or Yellow). If not, the poor child will be sent home with a druggy mother & no telling what will happen!!
Frank
April 11, 2024 at 5:51 pm
I don’t recall the Hippocratic Oath including anything about “inequity.”
Joan Amato
April 11, 2024 at 6:27 pm
A
positive
toxicology
test
does not tell you anything about someone’s ability to parent. Actually, a positive buprenorphine test tells you this person is engaged in
treatment.”
Has your reasoning ability left you? Reread the above quoted statement. How do you know this person is engaged in treatment? How do you know what drugs were taken during pregnancy? Isn’t taking drugs while pregnant against all viable healthcare for the baby? Are you sick in the head? Drug taking, smoking were always considered a no-no while pregnant. Do you realize that it’s possible and probably should be considered that maybe there is a segment of the population, a minority group, that disregards all safeguards for the fetus that are in our society? How do think that by not reporting that a baby born is infected with drugs is not somehow letting the baby fend for itself. If you don’t know more about the mother and her habits, how is helping the problem of a drug infected baby not being reported to help the mother and child? This segment of the population does drugs and more of them and that is a fact. You have gone crazy and can’t reason anymore. You are involved in helping this baby become a victim in our society. You are guilty of any act that doesn’t represent good care and concern for children. I’m disgusted with all of this unreality now in our world where common sense and love of humanity doesn’t exist in places like hospitals that used to be a place of health and care. This is sick and people like myself know it.